Installation: The Scapular Room

The Scapular Room, an installation by artist Nicole Salimbene, is an invitation for reflection and sitting meditation. Inspired by the poetics of materiality, she searches for the archetypal out of the ordinary and ephemeral, provoking dialogue on the ecology of the internal and external. In this exhibition, she demonstrates these concepts through the sculptural construction of scapulars. Scapulars are worn over the shoulders (scapula) for protection and as a symbol of devotion within the Catholic faith; iconic images are embedded in the pendants that rest on the chest and back. Remixing the scapular, Salimbene replaces traditional iconography with a range of natural and man-made materials encouraging contemplation and discussion on the roles of protection and devotion in relation to self, community, and our planet.

Nicole Salimbene’s paintings, sculptures and installations have been exhibited nationally and internationally, as well as reproduced for publications and purchased for private collections. She leads workshops in art as a contemplative practice and has developed a unique method for using the artistic process to gain clarity and mindfulness. She has brought this approach to workshops in affiliation with American University, Clark University, The Lama Foundation, The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, Ghost Ranch, and Crossings A Center for Healing Traditions. To see more of her work, please visit www.nicolesalimbene.com